South by Southwest London, which runs June 1-6, has unveiled its full music program, with special guests added to the lineup including K-Pop idol Yunjin, Italian pop superstar Gaia, Dallas rap collective Cure for Paranoia, and spoken-word and hip-hop fusion musician BrokenPen.
Other additions include Afrobeats rising star Oxlade, London-based grime artist Jords, reggae-inspired singer-songwriter Iyamah, genre-bending artist Finn Askew, folk-pop singer Oscar Blue and Finnish metal band Rabbit Cult.
Previously announced artists set to appear at the event include Nigerian Afrobeats artist Tiwa Savage, American rapper Earl Sweatshirt, Nigerian rapper and singer Odumodublvck, American sibling rock band Infinity Song and British singer-songwriter Rachel Chinouriri.
Also confirmed to perform at SXSW London were Amaria BB, Sega Bodega, Shame, Circa Waves and producer Fraser T. Smith.
Adem Holness, head of music at SXSW London, said: “I’ve always loved artists, collectives and platforms building new scenes on their own terms, shaping sounds, spaces and audiences around them. At a time when algorithms can flatten culture into sameness, stepping into real, physical music communities matters more than ever.
“We’re taking over grassroots venues across East London, bringing those distinct global scenes into the same space, not as trends but as movements shaped by the people inside them. If you want to understand where music is heading next, it starts in these rooms, with the people creating it.”
The week opens with a launch event at Brick Lane Yard before moving into a packed multi-day schedule of curated showcases. Highlights include a special program with Notion at Shoreditch Town Hall featuring Earl Sweatshirt alongside rising voices such as Cure for Paranoia, Gramn. and Harry Edohoukwa.
Across the week, a wide range of global scenes are represented through collaborations with leading curators and platforms. Crack Magazine brings boundary-pushing electronic artist Sega Bodega to Christ Church Spitalfields, while Seoul Community Radio and ScreaM Records spotlight cutting-edge sounds from South Korea at XOYO. Latino Life delivers a showcase of Latin talent at Unlocked, and Island Wave presents a high-energy bill including Oxlade and DJ Puffy.
Wednesday’s program has Mahogany hosting artists including Rachel Chinouriri and Infinity Song at Shoreditch Town Hall, while BBC Asian Network takes over Rich Mix. The Brit School and TLD Records also spotlight the U.K.’s emerging talent pipeline at Colours.
Thursday expands the sonic palette further, from South Asian House and Afro Folk Rising showcases to a major R&B-led lineup curated by DJ Ace, featuring Tiwa Savage. The day also sees performances from Amaria BB, Samory I and Zion Marley, alongside a gospel showcase led by House Gospel Choir.
The program continues into Friday with a mix of cutting-edge and alternative voices, including post-punk outfit Shame, as well as showcases from Focus Wales, Reprezent Radio and emerging artist collectives supporting the next generation of U.K. talent.
Variety parent company Penske Media acquired a majority stake in SXSW in 2023.
Source: variety.com
